Yennenga “Yenn” Adanya | Oyun Botanical Gardens

Yennenga “Yenn” Adanya

Oyun Botanical Gardens

East Point, Fulton County

Urban farming comes with unique challenges, but none are as daunting as land security. Yennenga “Yenn” Adanya, founder of Oyun Botanical Gardens in East Point, faced this challenge two years ago when the land she was leasing went up for sale. "I almost lost this property in 2022," Yenn recalled. The land was put up for sale, and the future of Oyun Botanical Gardens seemed uncertain. Fortunately, Arden's Garden, a local family-owned juice company, purchased the land and set up a lease-to-own agreement with Yenn, giving her time to secure ownership. "I had the opportunity to purchase it, and I knew I just needed a year to figure things out.

Determined to secure her farm, Yenn sought out solutions. That’s when she heard about Food Well Alliance’s Farm Resource Round-up, a networking event designed to connect farmers with support. “I knew about Food Well from my time at Truly Living Well, because it was always this hub of great resources. So I was like, ‘Yes, Food Well! Thank you for the resource.’” At the event, Yenn met Maurice Smith, a representative from USDA Farm Service Agency who helped her secure a Farm Service Loan to purchase the land. "I got the approval for the loan, and in May, we closed!"

With the land secured, Yenn was able to continue Oyun Botanical Gardens, which has become integral to the East point community by providing local produce and offering gardening classes, wellness events, and a shop with natural products. "We want people to see wellness as a bigger picture, not just the food." The site also serves as a drop-off site for the East Point Compost Program, in partnership with CompostNow and Food Well Alliance. 

“You just have to stay positive,” said Yenn, reflecting on what got her through this challenging period. Yenn’s story showcases the importance of continued support for farmers. "We need you to keep giving, because we need resources," she urged donors. "Food Well is like a well-oiled machine. To keep that machine going for us gardeners and farmers, they need oil. Donors have the oil."